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The Annunciation
Ellen Gilchrist's debut novel expands the thematic and visual landscapes the author made indelibly hers in radiantly spun stories. The Annunciation follows the desires of Amanda McCarney: an unwed mother on a Mississippi Delta plantation at age fourteen, a wealthy New Orleans matron into her early forties, and now a divorced poetry student living in a university community...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
October 1st 2001
by Louisiana State University Press
(first published January 1st 1983)
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I first read The Annunciation a couple of decades ago, and its appealing description of Fayetteville, Arkansas lingered in my memory, recently prompting a long-postponed trip to that city. Fayetteville turned out to be less than I had remembered, although perhaps it was once the artsy community that Eureka Springs now appears to be. But in re-reading Ellen Gilchrist's novel, I realized that it is much more about character than it is about place. Gilchrist deftly portrays a variety of interesting...more
An extremely good start for reading Ellen Gilchrist. Her book while focused on a single character depicts a whole world and many many other people.
Gilchrist's writing style is always flowing, very oral, and enjoyable to read, especially as her stories are always very "character driven" as Gilchrist says herself.
The only shadow would be how quick and entertaining her stories start, she has difficulties to maintain the tension and the ending stays a little abrupt. Nevertheless, you can't help but...more
Gilchrist's writing style is always flowing, very oral, and enjoyable to read, especially as her stories are always very "character driven" as Gilchrist says herself.
The only shadow would be how quick and entertaining her stories start, she has difficulties to maintain the tension and the ending stays a little abrupt. Nevertheless, you can't help but...more
Gilchrist has a real knack for creating unforgettable women protagonists, and Amanda in this novel is no exception. It's an absorbing read with interesting dialogue and strange but credible psychological twists. The only complaint I had about the novel was the ending, which stretched the religious imagery of the title to the breaking point and was not believable. Had it had a better ending, I would have given it five stars, but that part read like something Gilchrist had grown tired of and just...more
Ellen Gilchrist's first novel, The Annunciation, published in '84, brings together both what I love and what I loathe about her work. The beginning of this book was 4-star material, the ending was a 1, so I'll bump the 2.5 average up to a 3.
I first ran across Gilchrist's work in high school, maybe at age 15. I was at the neighborhood used bookstore and came across her novel, Net of Jewels, and decided to buy it because Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" was on the cover. Ask nearly any high school-aged a...more
I first ran across Gilchrist's work in high school, maybe at age 15. I was at the neighborhood used bookstore and came across her novel, Net of Jewels, and decided to buy it because Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" was on the cover. Ask nearly any high school-aged a...more
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After working in a bookstore in the South for a year and staring at Gilchrist's many titles on the shelves and debating as to whether or not I should give one a try, I found a copy of The Annunciation on the used book rack of Shakespeare and Co in Paris and decided now was a good time to see what Gilchrist is all about.
I found this book to be relatively fast-paced, the characters were likeable, and there was something about the prose, while not the best prose I've ever read, that was comforting...more
I found this book to be relatively fast-paced, the characters were likeable, and there was something about the prose, while not the best prose I've ever read, that was comforting...more
Debut novel......Follows desires of Amanda McCarney: an unwed mother on a Mississippi Delta plantation at age 14, a wealthy New Orleans matron into her early 40s and now a divorced poetry student living in a university community in the Ozarks. When Amanda finds herself infatuated with an intense young musician, what at first appears a sexual intrigue becomes a grand and impossible passion that unfolds with strikingn parallels to the life of the 18th century French poet whose work she is translat...more
I enjoyed it on the whole, but found it heavy-going and a little pretentious at times. Plus I took an immediate dislike to Amanda and she didn't improve with age. It may not matter to some, but for me, the main character needs to be either someone I like or can identify with, and Amanda drove me mad!
Her stories make human tragedy entertaining and offer poignant entertainment. I hope she'll write another novel someday soon since it was easier to keep her characters straight in the Annunciation than in her many books of interconnected short stories about many of these same folks.
I would not pick this book from a library shelf however I am glad to have traveled on Amanda winding,inward anger-filled life journey. A sad story & book, filled with a ton of LA & AR sights, sounds,smells and angst. Overall,a solid 3.5. Read more Gilchrist? Hummmmm
The first one I read of her's and the best...it got me to read all the others. If you like southern women writers she's a good one. Most of her books are semi-autobiographical, but she doesn't say that.
I like Ellen Gilchrist for her frankness and her character examination. It was good, but not my favorite.
Mar 26, 2010
Sarah Spearing
added it
Read this for the first time when I was 13. My tattered copy has been read over and over.
Feb 21, 2012
Lisa
added it
The Annunciation (Voices of the South) by Ellen Gilchrist (2001)
not sure about the ending, but loved the rest and the connections to louisiana!
Maybe my least favorite Gilchrist novel, but...I still liked it
I re-read this book every year. One of my top three favorites.
What happened Ellen, this book was awful.
I love everything by this author
Jan 10, 2011
Cathy
added it
Love anything by Ellen Gilchrist!
I wish there would have been more focus on Amanda's younger life but it was a good book.
beautiful read
Jul 28, 2010
Suzanne Pace
added it
Amazing!!
Well-written, yes, but I just couldn't care about these characters. I don't empathize with people who are so self-absorbed and who feel sorry for themselves despite having so many advantages.
This is Gilchrist's first fictional novel, and the book that drove many a starry-eyed writer to the MFA program at the University of Arkansas.
A writer that I loved who I discovered in a used book store in New Orleans. She creates quirky and endearing characters.
Its been awhile but I remember loving this book and being proud to be living in Arkansas when I read it.
This is the book that hooked me on Ellen Gilchrist. Read it, read it, read it, and become obsessed!
Ellen Gilchrist books are excellent summer readers for those who don't want a slinky romance novel.
They didn't have the paperback listed, but this is an incredible book.
First favorite book. Have read a dozen times.
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